Abstract :
The properties of CuFeO2 have been studied according to the catalytic hydrogen production upon visible light.
CuFeO2 with a low band gap Eg, a good chemical stability and a suitable flat band potential appears as a suitable
candidate. The potential of photoelectrons allows favorably a thermodynamically H2-evolution from alkaline thiosulfate
S2O2 3 solution. There is a major difference between pure and loaded oxide with some metal catalysts. Our best
results have been obtained with unloaded CuFeO2 at 50 C and pH 13.60. Thiosulfate S2O2 3 ions can be oxidized to
sulfite SO2 3 and subsequently to sulfate SO2 4 and the electronic exchange occurs via mediation of surface states. The
quite high H2-formation at the beginning shows a tendency towards saturation, it competes with SO2 3 produced by
parallel oxidation of S2O2 3 .
2004 Published by Elsevier Ltd
